Neat to Know: April 2, 2026 | City of Medicine Hat

Apr 02, 2026

Neat to Know is a roundup of City news, updates, and other important information. You can expect to see the week's most interesting content and even some that may have not been delivered through our regular channels.

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There will be no Neat to Know newsletter published next week on April 9.

We’re taking a brief pause to enjoy the sunshine and the extra time with friends and family while students are off school for the Easter break. We’ll be back the following week with more updates and news to share.

2026 HAT Smart residential incentive program now open

Through five separate incentives, Medicine Hat residents are encouraged to make environmental and energy-conscious upgrades to their homes or new builds.

From smaller everyday items (like light bulbs, furnace filters, weather stripping, and dryer balls), to major home upgrades (like solar PV, insulation, or replacing windows and doors), there's a HAT Smart incentive that fits the bill.

Speaking of bills... the program’s focus on improving your home's efficiency may save you money on utility bills over time.

For full details, head to hatsmart.ca.

Read the announcement

Downtown Enhancement and Safety Grant

We’re launching the Downtown Enhancement and Safety Grant on April 13 at 8 a.m.!

The grant is a new program designed to support local businesses and property owners in making practical improvements that contribute to a safer, more welcoming city centre in response to feedback from the downtown business community.

The initiative is focused on supporting businesses and property owners in addressing real, day-to-day operational challenges while contributing to a positive environment for customers, employees, and the broader community. It is one part of a broader, balanced approach to downtown that recognizes the importance of safety, accessibility, and inclusivity for all who live, work, and spend time in the area.

Read our news release to learn more about the grant program and how to apply.

Good Friday hours

Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the Good Friday statutory holiday tomorrow - Friday, April 3.

Visit our holiday hours page to view what to expect for City facilities and Waste Collection on Good Friday.

medicinehat.ca/holidayhours

No transit service

Please note, Good Friday is not included within our Statutory Holiday Transit Service Pilot Project. There will be no Medicine Hat Transit stat holiday service until Canada Day. Learn more about our pilot project here.

Keep FOG and wipes out of pipes

As you prepare for big holiday meals and more visitors over the Easter weekend, please remember that Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) do not belong in the sewer – neither do “flushable” wipes.

No one wants their holiday and family time to be spent cleaning up a sewer backup! Follow these tips to avoid an unfortunate mess:

Scrape leftover food off plates and serving dishes into the garbage before washing.
Pour liquid FOG into an empty jar or can; once cooled, throw in the garbage.
Dispose of “flushable” wipes in the garbage – these wipes take a long time to break down in water, causing sewer backups and damaging infrastructure along the way.

Soaps labeled as “grease fighting” and garburators do not minimize the effects that FOG has on the sewers. Instead, they push the FOG further down the lines to recollect, solidify, and possibly causing blockages and sewer backup for you and your neighbours.

By following these tips, you can keep a lot of unwanted materials from wreaking havoc on sewer systems and pipes, to help with a stress-free and mess-free holiday.

Co-op Place Express

The Co-op Place Express is back for Game 5 of the Medicine Hat Tigers’ opening-round series against the Regina Pats!

The Tigers head into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead against the Pats after two big wins on the road in Regina this week.

Our Co-op Place Express buses will depart from the Medicine Hat Mall bus stop starting at 6 p.m., with the last bus departing at 6:45 (15 minutes before game time).

Want to let someone else deal with the traffic and enjoy a round-trip shuttle for just $5? Get your passes on Tixx.ca or pay in person with cash or your bus pass/MHTgo! card.

If necessary, Game 7 will be back at Co-op Place on Tuesday, April 7.

Asphalt paving fraud

Fraudulent asphalt paving companies have again been reported in the city. These transient companies may offer paving service at a discounted price, but the work fails to meet minimum industry standards. Be aware of the risks of hiring such contractors, as they are not licensed to operate in Medicine Hat.

Read the Government of Alberta’s Consumer Protection Alert to learn more. And, look up contractors in Medicine Hat to make sure they have an active contractor license within the city.

Litter Blitz

In case you missed it – our annual Litter Blitz campaign is underway! This year’s event kicked off Thursday, March 26. Now that the snow has melted and you can see the litter that needs to be blitzed, you can take part until Saturday, April 18!

The Litter Blitz aims to foster a collaborative approach to enhancing the natural beauty in Medicine Hat, empowering residents to join the City in its spring cleanup of trash from parks and public green spaces.

Read more here to learn about the event, including how to participate, and an appreciation barbecue put on by our Parks and Recreation team.

Organic waste collection

Seasonal collection of organic yard waste materials starts on Monday, April 6! Organic waste collection occurs on the same day as household waste and recycling collection.

Download the Recycle Coach App or refer to medicinehat.ca/collectionschedule to determine your first scheduled organic waste collection day.

Visit our Yard Waste page to check out some helpful tips on how to ensure your organic waste gets successfully picked up. You can also request a yard waste cart on this page, or by contacting our Environmental Utilities team at 403-529-8176 or eu@medicinehat.ca.

Seasonal commercial patios

Spring's around the corner... ready for patio season?

If you are the owner of a restaurant or pub who would like to welcome your customers to the fresh outdoor air, now is the time to plan your commercial patio space. You should know that there are different options, and a few approvals are needed.

The good news is that the City has a webpage to walk you through the process, and how to reach us if you need guidance. Once your plan is good-to-go, you can apply entirely online. Get your patio approved and set up for the sun's return... and for your sun-craving customers!

Visit our Outdoor Patios & Sidewalk Cafes webpage to learn more.

Speaking of enjoying outdoor spaces

Considering a deck for your home? Or maybe revamping your current deck? Start your plans now to get your permits approved, and you'll be putting your feet up when the sun's out to warm your toes. We have a webpage to guide you (or your contractor) through the process of building or modifying a residential deck. From permits to checklist to online application, all the info you'll need is available. Then the only question will be "when's the deck party?"

Visit our Decks, Patios & Balconies webpage to learn more.

Thinking about a different type of home project? Check out our Home Improvement Hub.

State of the City address

Mayor Linnsie Clark’s 2026 State of the City address is now up on our YouTube channel!

The Medicine Hat Kiwanis Club and the Medicine Hat Lodge hosted the annual State of the City address and luncheon earlier this year. This year marked the 39th edition of the address.

The event brought together community members, business leaders, and local organizations to hear directly from Mayor Clark on the current state of our city, key initiatives, and the vision for the year ahead.

Free compost giveaway & battery recycling

Saturday, Apr. 18 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 1453 Hutchinson Ave SE

In just over two weeks, we’ll be hosting the first of three free compost giveaway days in 2026!

New for 2026: This year, you can also come recycle your used household batteries. We’ll have a station on-site to allow for safe and proper battery recycling.

We handed out 36,415 kilograms of our high-quality SureGrow compost to over 700 residents across three events in 2025. We’re excited to offer this popular initiative again, with another of our services added in 2026!

Bring a shovel and container, and come grab up to 10 gallons of compost per household.

Can’t make it on April 18? Our other days are Saturday, May 9 and Saturday, Sept. 12 – same time, same place.

Our SureGrow multi-purpose compost is an all-natural soil amendment produced that we produce from materials in our annual organics collection program. Learn more about it at medicinehat.ca/suregrow.

And, if you have household batteries lying around and want to recycle them outside of these three events, visit RecycleYourBatteries.ca to find a recycling location near you.

Want to see more upcoming events, programming and activities? View all options at City of Medicine Hat facilities:

Sign up for eTax for a chance to win

Did you know: It costs approximately $2 to send a paper bill!

Paper bills add expenses and environmental waste – between the stamp, envelope, paper, ink, printing processing time, and mail clerk time.

Help reduce waste and save money by signing up for eBilling on eTax before Earth Day (April 22). You'll be entered to win a $500 City of Medicine Hat Gift Card!

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Existing eTax customers who registered for electronic billing will be included in the draw.

This draw does not include new or existing eUtility customers (but we encourage you to sign up for that as well!)

Head to our Go Paperless webpage to register today.

YXH Master Plan: Round 2 What We Heard (WWH) report

Our airport master plan lays out a structured approach for how YXH will meet the needs of the region for the next 20 years.

In December 2025, key stakeholders were engaged in Round 1 – Read that WWH report here.

Then in January, a survey was completed by over 700 participants for Round 2. The latest WWH report details what we heard from participants in terms of the value YXH provides, priorities for its vision and mission, and what success looks like in the future. Read the Round 2 WWH report here.

Next steps for this project include an infrastructure assessment with the full plan expected at the end of 2026.

Visit medicinehat.ca/YXHplan to learn more about the project.

To view all our career opportunities at the City of Medicine Hat, visit our Careers webpage and sign up for job alerts.

Technical Assistant (Parks and Recreation)

Seasonal | Full-time | On-site

The City of Medicine Hat is seeking a driven and dependable individual to join our Parks and Recreation team as a Technician Assistant, anticipated to run from April through October.

This role provides essential technical, research, and data collection support to the Parks Operations and Asset Planning teams, helping ensure our parks, trails, and recreational assets are well managed, maintained, and supported by accurate, timely information.

As an integral support for the department, the Technician Assistant plays a key role in collecting and managing data that informs operational decisions, asset planning, and long-term service delivery.

Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.

Recreation Facility Worker

Casual | On-site

Join our team and take pride in maintaining the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of our recreation facilities.

As a Recreation Facility Worker, you'll play a key role in ensuring a welcoming environment for our community by upholding high standards of cleanliness and assisting with minor maintenance tasks. Your work will help create a great experience for everyone who visits our facilities.

Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.

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